Propulsion system for a self-propelled vehicle with multiple electric drive units

Abstract

A propulsion system for a self-propelled vehicle comprises a motor body which is associated with a mechanical transmission conveying motion to the driving wheels of the vehicle, and which integrates and contains in a single body electric propulsion means, comprising at least several components of a brushless rotary motor; a clutch coupling located downstream of and mechanically connected to the electric propulsion means; and a gearbox with discontinuous gear ratios, having an input shaft connected to the clutch coupling and an output shaft coming out to the outside of the motor body and connecting to the mechanical transmission. The electric propulsion means comprise the components of at least two brushless motors, each equipped with a respective driving shaft provided with a pinion which is coupled by meshing with a predetermined ratio to a clutch coupling.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A propulsion system for a self-propelled vehicle comprising:
 a single body electric propulsion unit; 
 a clutch coupling located downstream of and mechanically connected to the electric propulsion unit; and 
 a gearbox with discontinuous gear ratios, having an input shaft connected to the clutch coupling and an output shaft coming out to an outside of the motor body; 
 a single ring gear supported by the clutch coupling; 
 a motor body combining together the electric propulsion unit, the clutch coupling, the ring gear and the gearbox; 
 a mechanical drive connecting the output shaft to driving wheels of the vehicle; 
 the electric propulsion unit comprising components of at least two brushless motors, each of the at least two brushless motors including a respective driving shaft including a pinion meshingly coupled to the ring gear in a respective predetermined ratio such that the at least two brushless motors all drive the single ring gear. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric propulsion unit further comprises at least one freewheel coupling operatively positioned between one of the driving shafts and a respective one of the pinions. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two brushless motors are identical. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two brushless motors are different from each other. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two brushless motors are selectively operable. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a controller programmed to selectively activate actuators of the at least two brushless motors depending on at least one predetermined control parameter. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is programmed to selectively activate the actuators of each of the at least two brushless motors depending on an operating temperature of at least one of the at least two brushless motors. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two brushless motors are selectively operable by commands issued by the vehicle driver. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor body is an integral part of a housing for containing the components of the at least two brushless motors. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the self-propelled vehicle is a motorcycle.